By: Laura Moreno
Actor Ncuti Gatwa recently hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live UK, bringing a comedic energy that demonstrated why he is one of the most compelling and likable actors of his generation. Indeed he’s shaping up to be a real comedic heavyweight.
Sporting his signature wardrobe, Gatwa’s opening monologue was the highlight of the evening. Addressing the camera with his trademark charismatic grin, he took a hilarious swipe at his tenure’s polarizing viewership and his character’s notoriously high emotional range.
“I’ve had so many fantastic roles in my career,” Gatwa told the cheering crowd. “Millions of you watched me as Eric in Sex Education, and then about 12 of you watched me in Doctor Who. Maybe that’s why I kept crying!”
He wasn’t done with the sci-fi franchise just yet. Leaning into the frequently bizarre nature of the show’s lore, he added a quick punchline about his parental validation and the series’ recent, perplexing creative choices.
“Joking aside, it was genuinely a magical role,” he smiled. “In fact, it was the first time my parents were truly proud of my career. When I told them I got the part, they said, ‘Finally, a doctor in the family!’ …Even though I have since regenerated into Billie Piper. I don’t understand it either.”
From Rwanda to the Global Stage
Gatwa’s journey to the pinnacle of British and global entertainment is truly inspiring. Born in Nyarugenge, Kigali (Rwanda) in 1992, Gatwa and his family fled the Rwandan genocide when he was just 2 years old, eventually settling in Scotland where he pursued his passion for the arts at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
With great candor, he’s spoken about how the experience of being a refugee shaped both his resilience and his sense of humor.
Ncuti Gatwa came out as queer in a 2023 interview with ELLE UK and later in GQ as well. He is from a Rwandan family of devout Christians and his father even holds a PhD in theology. Gatwa says he continues to navigate his spirituality in his own way, but he has said he definitely feels connected to something greater.
Long before his historic breakthrough, Gatwa worked as a go‑go dancer at an LGBTQ+ club while he was studying acting. He then put in his dues as a hardworking theater actor, but the grueling reality of the industry meant that he endured a time of housing insecurity.
Fortunately, everything changed in 2019 when he was cast as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s mega-hit Sex Education. His brilliant portrayal of a young, gay Nigerian-Rwandan teen earned him critical acclaim, multiple BAFTA nominations, and a place in pop culture history. From there, he broke barriers yet again, making history as the first Black actor to lead Doctor Who full-time.
To be sure, fans now look forward to Ncuti Gatwa’s upcoming projects including voicing a character in the major upcoming Warner Bros. animated feature film “Bad Fairies“ alongside Cynthia Erivo slated for 2027.